Monthly Archives: May 2012

MONTPELIER — He’s still in the 1 percent, but a weak commercial real estate market has dealt a blow to the personal fortunes of Gov. Peter Shumlin, who has watched his income drop by nearly half since winning election to the office in 2010.

And though Shumlin’s presumptive Republican challenger isn’t in the same income bracket as the Democratic incumbent, Randy Brock pulled down a healthy $268,000 last year, the vast majority of which came from investment income.

According to tax returns provided to the Vermont Press Bureau Wednesday, Shumlin pulled down slightly more than $500,000 in 2011, a far cry from the approximately $950,000 he and his wife, Deborah Holway, earned in 2009.

Bill Sorrell convened a press conference earlier today to “officially” kickoff his campaign for attorney general. The seven-term incumbent Democrat is looking to fend off a primary challenge from political upstart TJ Donovan, who racked up a key endorsement from the Vermont Troopers Association earlier this week.

Sorrell address a crowd of supporters at the Cedar Creek room in the Statehouse. Here’s what he had to say (sorry in advance for the caps – this is from a Sorrell release)

Democratic candidate for attorney general TJ Donovan has snagged a key endorsement from the Vermont Troopers Association. A nod from the state’s largest police union is a nice feather in the cap of any political candidate, but even more so for one running to be the state’s top law-enforcement officer.

The endorsement marks the first ever in the AG’s race by the nearly 300-member union. In a release fired off this morning by the Donovan campaign, VTA president Michael O’Neil said his members “know that TJ will be an energetic and engaged Attorney General who understands that justice and fairness apply to all Vermonters. We look forward to working closely with TJ asVermont’s next Attorney General to protect Vermonters throughout our state.”

Donovan called the endorsement an “honor” and said he looked forward “to developing a close relationship with the hard-working men and women of this union and our state police more broadly.”

“I am committed to being an engaged Attorney General working with the VTA and law enforcement statewide to develop a consistent, transparent and fair criminal justice system,” Donovan said.

For a guy looking to steal a victory in a Democratic primary for attorney general, TJ Donovan sure is locking up a lot of Republican endorsements.

Well, maybe not ‘a lot.’ But two so far, now that Barre City Mayor Tom Lauzon has decided to throw his GOP weight behind Donovan’s bid to unseat incumbent Bill Sorrell.

Rutland City Mayor Chris Louras, also a Republican, gave Donovan the nod earlier this month. In a press release fired off by the Donovan campaign a few minutes ago, Lauzon said Donovan’s focus on drug abuse make the Chittenden County State’s Attorney the right choice to become Vermont’s top prosecutor.

“As a mayor, I witness the harsh impacts of drug abuse and a fractured criminal justice system each day,” Lauzon said. “I would welcome a stronger partnership with the office of the Attorney General to begin making our communities whole again. I know TJ will work hard to build these partnerships, providing an opportunity to make real and lasting progress for the people of Barre and all Vermonters.”

Winooski Mayor Michael O’Brien also endorsed Donovan Thursday, giving him the backing of mayors in three of the state’s six most populous cities.

Interesting to see Republican mayors backing a Democrat before waiting to see whether a fellow GOPer steps up – Sen. Vince Illuzzi is weighing a run.

Also interesting: though he’s embroiled in a hotly contested Democratic primary that could be decided by the more progressive wing of the party, Donovan sure isn’t running to the left.

I have decided not to run for the office of state auditor this November.

I have achieved the goal set when I took office in January 2007 to transform the Vermont State Auditor’s Office into a first-rate performance auditing shop. It is time for me to move on to new challenges.

I have a number of options presented to me, and some still out there, in God’s hands. It is most likely I will land in federal service in the IG or CFO communities as my passion continues to be improving government performance and better federal-state-local intergovernmental collaboration. I have an offer from a CPA firm as well.

I want to thank those I have worked with and the people of Vermont who elected me. It has been an honor to serve you with the talented staff at the auditor’s office. Because of them, our office has been able to transform to a high quality performance audit office, adding value to the state.

I also thank the Legislature and other partners that worked hard to bring embezzlement prevention tools to fruition. I am grateful for the many joint efforts of collaboration to improve Vermont (government) performance. I appreciate everything very much.

I expect to finish out my term and begin a new job in January, and continue to serve Vermont with great honor.

Gov. Peter Shumlin announced today he vetoed a bill that would have required a study related to Adult Protective Services.

The administration is embroiled in a lawsuit with advocates for vulnerable adults, who say Adult Protective Services has failed to investigate reports of abuse cases as quickly as state law requires.

More to come on this in the Rutland Herald and Times Argus, but here’s the governor’s statement:

“Coming from a private sector background, I have always been frustrated by unnecessary bureaucracy and paperwork that exists in state government. Instead of focusing on outcomes, these impediments to progress cost taxpayers too much money and deliver little by way of results.

This bill, H. 290, is an example of misplaced good intentions. By requiring expensive, time-consuming, and duplicative reports by the Agency of Human Services to the legislature, this bill distracts AHS from doing its job: protecting our most vulnerable Vermonters. I am vetoing this bill because it does nothing to advance the goal of protecting those vulnerable Vermonters, adds yet another layer of bureaucracy to state government, and wastes taxpayer dollars.”

Doug Hoffer, who lost to Republican Tom Salmon in the 2010 race for state auditor, is considering taking another crack at Salmon and will ask for the Vermont Democratic Party’s endorsement Saturday during a meeting of the party’s state committee.

Hoffer, a self-employed policy analyst, won endorsements from the Democratic and Progressive parties two years ago, but couldn’t unseat Salmon, who has been auditor since 2006.

Hoffer said Thursday that if he wins the endorsement from the Democrats at their meeting in Randolph “then I’m likely to run.”

But he noted the Democrats can endorse more than one candidate for auditor and he’s reluctant to wade into a primary as he did in 2010 against Ed Flanagan.

Hoffer hadn’t heard of any other potential Democratic candidates for auditor.

Chittenden County State’s Attorney T.J. Donovan will ask for the Democratic Party’s endorsement Saturday. He is trying to unseat incumbent Democratic Attorney General Bill Sorrell.

Twelve hours after a late-night rhetorical slip, House Majority Leader Lucy Leriche took her apology tour to the Mark Johnson Show this morning, where she expressed her regrets, again, at calling House Minority Leader Don Turner a “terrorist.”

The gasp-inducing moment came during a Democratic caucus convened after Turner, a Milton Republican, ensnared Leriche and House Speaker Shap Smith in a well-hidden procedural trap.

Turner had vowed to suspend rules earlier this session so long as his caucus had 24 hours to review bills before they went to the floor. On Thursday, he took it back, saying his willingness to cooperate now hinged on capitulation to a new list of legislative demands.

He’s issued some pretty lofty requests, including: a merger amendment that would prevent GMP from recouping in rates a $21 million payout to CVPS customers; an indefinite moratorium on a new software tax (know around here as the “cloud” tax); scrapping the standard offer increases in the energy bill; making biomass facilities eligible for renewable-energy subsidies; and a host of labor-related provisions.

Turner has hostages. His unwillingness to suspend rules could make it impossible to get a number of second-tier bills across the finish line in time for a Saturday adjournment. By refusing to suspend parliamentary rules, Turner could stretch out for days things that could otherwise happen in minutes.

“We went in said we’re all done suspending rules unless we get something,” Turner said. “On some of these issues we’ve been talking about, we haven’t gotten anywhere. Rules are the only thing we have as a minority to make our voice heard.”

Leriche said Democrat leaders wouldn’t allow Turner’s maneuver to push back the May 5 adjournment.

“In true hostage form – it was really kind of funny – he presented us with a list of demands,” Leriche told her Democratic caucus at about8:45 p.m.Thursday. “He whipped out this list … I was not impressed with his little list of demands and from my perspective it’s not consistent with good leadership. As far as I’m concerned we don’t negotiate with terrorists.”

Democratic members seemed to realize immediately their leader’s misstep, casting a collective, nervous gaze at the reporter taking notes.

They encouraged her maybe to clarify that last remark, to explain perhaps that she doesn’t think Turner is an actual terrorist.

She obliged, first in caucus:

“After I said it I realized that was a little harsh. I do not mean that literally of course. This is a democracy and they have every right to that.”

And later when they returned to the House floor:

“I think I got carried away just now in Democratic caucus and was exaggerating beyond reason in my description of my perception of what was happening with the minority party. I have no excuse, unfortunately, and I really am truly sorry.”

Turner said it’s unfortunate to see Democrats resort to nasty name-calling.

“I’m concerned that when leadership has to finally negotiate, that that’s their response,” Turner said. “The only negotiating tool they left us is the rules, so that’s what I’ll use. It’s a shame to see them react the way they did.”

Turner, however, said he accepts Leriche’s apology, as well as ones he received from other members of the Democratic caucus.

“Many of the Democrats I respect came over and apologized and gave me a hug and said we understand you’re trying to represent your constituents and your caucus and we’re sorry that happened,” Turner said. “So me I can move on. (Leriche) doesn’t like me. I don’t think we’ll be getting a beer tomorrow. But it’ll be okay.”

All the must-have bills of 2012 – things like the budget, miscellaneous tax bill, capital bill, reapportionment – are on track for passage by tomorrow without rules suspensions.

But a number of nice-to-haves could become legislative casualties of the partisan standoff. They include legislation that would force private insurance companies to disclose claims-denial data, as well as a bill that would allow the families of servicemen and women killed in non-combat operations to qualify for Gold Star license plates.

Politically, Leriche’s mistake has at least temporarily cost Democrats the upper ground in the late-session messaging battle. Instead of castigating the GOP for undoing months of hard work by committed legislators, Democrats are stuck saying ‘sorry.’

For political observers wondering where House Republicans have been this year, their emergence from hibernation Thursday came as something of a surprise. Turner said the timing wasn’t an accident. By waiting until the House and Senate closed a deal on the budget to spring the trap, he made sure Democrats couldn’t pile onto the appropriations bill all the leftover legislation they hoped to have out before Saturday.

House Minority Leader Don Turner submitted a letter to House Speaker Shap Smith earlier this session outlining in advance the terms under which he’d acquiesce to rules suspensions. So long as his GOP caucus had 24 hours to review bills before they went to the floor, Turner told Smith, he’d allow a bypassing of parliamentary rules.

But in a meeting Thursday, Turner backed away from his commitment, unveiling a list of new demands. Unless Smith capitulated, Turner said, Democrats wouldn’t get the rules suspensions they’ll need if Smith wants to fulfill his legislative agenda and meet his Saturday adjournment deadline.

The unexpected development brought tensions between the parties to new heights. But thing would only intensify when the Democratic caucus met at8:30 p.m.to discuss the developments.

Microphone in hand, House Majority Leader Lucy Leriche stood before her members and unleashed a diatribe against the Republican leader, taking Turner to task for reneging on his commitment. If lawmakers are to adjourn Saturday, Leriche said, then the inability to suspend rules would likely force lawmakers to abandon hopes for passing a number of bills.

“In true hostage form – it was really kind of funny – he presented us with a list of demands,” Leriche told her Democratic caucus. “He whipped out this list … I was not impressed with his little list of demands and from my perspective it’s not consistent with good leadership. As far as I’m concerned we don’t negotiate with terrorists.”

Recognizing a reporter was in the room, Democratic members sought immediately to throw Leriche a shovel. She took the cue.

“After I said it I realized that was a little harsh,” she said. “I do not mean that literally of course. This is a democracy and they have every right to that.”

But House Republicans, who had convened a simultaneous caucus in the room next door, quickly condemned the “terrorist” rhetoric.

“It’s obvious tensions are running high on both sides, but I think it’s absolutely outrageous to categorize a minority party standing up for what it thinks is right as terrorists,” said Rep. Dustin Degree, a St. Albans Republican. “This is really appalling. In a post-9/11 world, you can’t say that.”

Leriche offered a more formal apology when the full body reconvened on the House floor minutes later.

“I think I got carried away just now in Democratic caucus and was exaggerating beyond reason in my description of my perception of what was happening with the minority party,” said Leriche, a Hardwick Democrat. “I have no excuse, unfortunately, and I really am truly sorry.”

Turner’s change of heart, combined with Smith’s commitment to a Saturday adjournment, throws in doubt passage of several bills. Among the potential casualties: legislation that would force insurance companies to disclose information on claims denials, and a miscellaneous motor vehicles bill that would expand the number of Vermont military families eligible for Gold Star license plates.

Late this afternoon, Rep. Ann Pugh looked across a table in the Statehouse and told three senators thanks but no thanks on their proposed compromise on legislation that tries to tackle prescription drug abuse in Vermont.

Pugh and two other House lawmakers rejected the Senate proposal a few hours after Gov. Peter Shumlin and the three senators on the conference committee held a press conference to try to move the House lawmakers off their position.

The House hasn’t budged.

The House wants police to get a warrant before getting patient and prescriber data from the Vermont Prescription Monitoring System, and the Senate and the governor say a warrant is too high a threshold.

“Law enforcement is really familiar with getting warrants,” Pugh told the three senators. “They’ve been doing that for 200 years.”

Sen. Dick Sears, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said he was highly disappointed the House didn’t agree with the latest proposal and said it might be better to scrap the controversial section of the bill and try again next year.

With the House and Senate in tense negotiations over whether to allow police to get information from the Vermont Prescription Monitoring System without a warrant, Gov. Peter Shumlin held a press conference Thursday to pressure the House to bend to his will.

The House passed a bill that required police to get a warrant. The Senate passed a bill that required no warrant.

Shumlin sides with the Senate, and with time running out in the legislative session, he repeated his refrain that prescription drug addiction is an epidemic that needs to be solved and urged the House to allow warrant-less access.

“It’s a huge challenge,” Shumlin said of prescription drug abuse. “It’s breaking up families. It’s killing Vermonters, and it’s something that is an epidemic in the state.”

Shumlin said the House version of the bill that requires a warrant is useless and said the House was being “irresponsible on this issue.”

“The House bill does absolutely nothing to solve the problem at hand,” said Shumlin.

Shumlin was joined by several Democratic and Republican lawmakers at the press conference.

Moments after the press conference, the conference committee met.

In a tense exchange, Rep. Ann Pugh — who has been defending the House position in the conference committee – looked across the table at the three senators and said the House bill does make progress on the issue.

“There are many parts that both bodies have added that will enable us to address the problem,” said Pugh. “This is a health care tool, it was created as a health care tool, not as an investigative tool, with all due respect.”

The issue remains unresolved, and the conference committee is expected to meet again this afternoon.

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